Flushing-valve mechanism



April 5, 1927. R HMS I FLUSHING ALvE MECHANISM Filed June 9 1925 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY April 5, 1927.

PI HAAS FLUSHING VALVE MECHANISM Filed J1m 9v 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v A RNEY Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES PHILIP HAAS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

FLUSHINGr-VALVE MECHANISM.

Application filed June 9, 1925. Serial No. 35,873.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a flushing valve mechanism for flush tanks of extremely simple construction which can be very cheaply manufactured and installed and which can be readily adapted for flush tanks now in use, and which is highly efficient in operation.

In the accompanying drawings-- Fig. 1 is partial view of a flush tank and bowl, showing the tank in section, and my invention embodied therein, the bowl being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the tank being shown in section and bowl in elevation and partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a slight modification.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the valve operating lever, and adjacent parts drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring to the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, 1 represents the flush tank, which is preferably composed of porcelain, and is provided with an aperture in the bottom, 2, in which is secured the usual fitting, 3, provided with a discharge aperture having a flushing valve seat, 4, surrounding the same and a vertically disposed overflow pipe, 5, extending to a point adjacent to the upper part of the tank and open at its upper end. The fitting, 3, is connected by a flushing pipe, 6, with the bowl, 7, in the usual manner. 8 represents the water supply pipe connected through another aperture in the bottom of the tank with a vertical inlet pipe, 9, provided with the usual float operated inlet valve 10, and being also provided with a downwardly extending delivery pipe, 11, discharging near the bottom of the'tank to prevent undue noise in filling the tank. 12 represents the usual float lever, connected with the inlet valve, and provided with a float, 13, adjustably connected to the lever, and determining the water level in the tank. The foregoing parts may be of usual or preferred construction and as their particular construction forms no part of my presentinvention, they will not be more particularly described.

14 represents the flushing valve which is provided with a seat engaging portion preferably in the form of a segment of a sphere, that is to say spherical, said valve being provided with a vertical lift rod, 15, passing through guides, 1(S16, on a bracket, 17 provided with a clamp ring, 18, by which it is 5 adjustably and removably secured to the overflow pipe, 5, and having an enlargement, 19, at its upper end in this instance provided by bending the rod, 1.5, into a loop or eye.

At the'upper end of the overflow pipe, 5, I

provide a bracket, 20, secured to a clamp ring, 21, engaging the overflow pipe, and to the bracket 20, is pivoted a weighted bell crank, having a horizontally disposed arm,

22, provided with a weight, 23, at its outer end, and a vertically disposed arm, 24. The bell crank is provided with stops to limit its movements in both directions on its pivotal connection, 25, with the bracket, 20. In this instance, I have shown the bell crank provided with a stop lug, 26, for engaging a vertical face of the clamp ring, (or the bracket) to limit the downward movement of the weighted arm, 22, and the bell crank also is provided with a stop lug, 27 for en- 35 gaging the upper edge of the clamp ring, 21 (or of the bracket) to limit the upward movement of the weighted arm, as shown best in Fig. 4. As indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, the bell crank when moved in a direction to raise the weighted arm, 22, will be arrested by the stop, 27, before the arm, 22, can approach very closely to a vertical position which insures that the weight, 23,

will always act to return the bell crank lever to its normal position.

The arm 22 of the bell crank is provided with a lifting link, 28, secured thereto through a hole, 29, conveniently provided for the engagement of the link therewith,

The operating arm, 24, of the weighted 110 bell crank leverhas connected to it one end of a flexible connection, 31, which is prefer- For eX- ably a section of ball chain as shown, and which extends through a suitable aperture in the side wall of the tank and has a depending portion, 31*, outside of the tank to which a handle, 32, is attached. I prefer to pro vide the tank with an open notch, 33, in one of its forward corners, to receive the chain, the bottom and sides of the notch being glazed when the tank is made of porcelain, or otherwise provided with a very smooth and flaring. or curved surface so as to cause only the slightest friction on the chain. The tank. is preferably provided with the usual cover, 50.

I: prefer to employ a valve which is sufficiently light to, either float or to sink very slowlyv when immersed in and supported by the water. When the valve is seated it will obviously be held upon its seat by the pressure of the water in the tank. Vhen the chain is pulled, the bell crank lever will be r( )cl (ed1on its pivotal axis, thus lifting the valve from its seat. As soon as the chain is released, the weighted arm causes the bell crank lever to return to its normal position and, restore the chain, and the lifting link to normal position, but the loose engagement between the link, 28, and the litfing rod leaves the valve entirely free to float in the waterso long as it is immersed, or to slowly sink upon its seat, according to the weight Off the valve as compared with the amount of water it displaces. As the valve descends, in either case, it will be entirely free from the lifting link, and will settle upon the seat and by reason of its spherical seat engaging portion will. make a tight engagement with the seat. The amount of water discharged for flushing the bowl will lower the water level in the tank and the float will fall correspondingly, admitting waterfrom the inlet pipe to fill; the tank to the desired level.

It is to be noted that under no circumstances can the valve be held open by the lifting means after the chainis released, as the weighted arm of the bell: crank insures the instant return ofthe chain and lifting link and bell crank. The drag of the chain over the surface of the guiding notch is readily overcome by the weight arm, but it serves to prevent the stop, 26, from. arresting the bell crank too sharply or suddenly and acts to cushion the action of the stop, 26. The stop,'27, prevents the weighted arm of the bell crank from being pulled into a position waere' it might otherwise be overbalanced and prevented from returning, and the construction prevents any undue strain being exerted on the valve or its lifting rod.

Many of the flushing tanks now in use are provided with a hole in the front wall in which is inserted the pivot of a lever, connected with the valve by various means, for operating it. l/Vhere it is desired to install my improved flushing mechanism in such a tank, 1 provide the construction shown in Fig. 8, in which the parts shown which are identical with those just described are given the same reference numerals with 100 added. In this figure, I have shown the usual hole in the front wall of the tank at 133, and within this hole I fit a sleeve, 18st, the inner end of which is threaded into a clamp bracket, 135, carrying a grooved guide, 136, forthe ball chain, 131. This guide may be a porcelain roller as shown, or a fixed piece of porcelain having a groove to receive the chain. The inner surf *e of the sleeve, 13st, is made smooth, and is flared outwardly at its outer end to facilitate the movement of the chain therethrough. The construction and operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 is otherwise the same as that previously described.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In flushing valve mechanism, the combination with a tank provided with a flushing outlet and valve, seat, and a vertical overflow pipe adjacent thereto, a valve en gaging said seat and provided with a guiding stem, and a guide for said stem, of a bell crank lever pivot-ally supported adjacent to the upper end ofthe overflow pipe, and

comprising, a horizontally disposed weighted arm and a vertically disposed operating.

arm, said bell crank lever being provided adjacent to and on opposite sides of its,

pivot witlrstops toengage a stationary part, one of said stops being, normally engaged and operative to support the weighted arm in substantially horizontal position, and the other of; said stops being operative to prevent the movement of saidweighted. arm intoinoperative position, a connection from said valve. stem to said weighted arm constructed to permit the valve to move upwardly with respect to said connection, and a flexible. connection secured to the operating arm of the bell crank and extending outside of the tank, said tank beingv provided with. guiding means frictionally engaging said: flexible, connection, the frictional, engagement of said flexible connection with said guiding means serving to, cushion the returnniovement of said. bell crank lever.

2. In flushing valve mechanism, the combination with a. tank provided with a flushing outlet and valve seat, and a vertical overflow pipe adjacent thereto, a valve engaging said seat, and providedwith a guiding stem, and a guide for said stem, a clamp for frictionally engaging the upper portion of the overflow pipe and provided with pivotal supports, a bell crank lever pivotally mountedin saidsupports, and comprising a horizontally disposed weighted arm and a frictionally disposedoperating arm, said bell crank lever being provided adjacent to its llll) point of pivoting with a downwardly extending stop lug for normally engaging a frictional face connected with said clamp, and a stop lug on the other side of the said pivotal connection for engaging said clamp to prevent over movement of the bell crank lever, a lifting link connecting the weighted arm of the bell crank leverwith the valve stem, and constructed to permit the free vertical movement of the valve and stem with respect thereto, a flexible connection having one end connected to the operating arm of the bell crank lever and the other end depending outside of the tank, said tank being provided with a guide for said flexible connection, having smooth and downwardly flared portions for frictionally engaging said flexible engagement with a light friction sufiicient to cushion the return movement of the bell crank lever after an operation thereof to open said flushing valve.

3. A flushing mechanism for flush tanks provided with a flushing aperture and valve seat, a vertically disposed overflow pipe adjacent thereto, and an aperture in the side of the tank above the water lever, comprising among its members a flushing valve provided with a valve stem and guide therefor, a clamp for engaging the upper portion of the overflow pipe, a bell crank lever pivoted to said clamp and provided with a stop for holding said lever in normal position, and a stop to prevent over movement thereof, said stops being located on opposite sides of said pivotal connections, and adapted to engage respectively vertical and horizontal faces of said clamp, a guiding sleeve extend ing through the aperture in the wall of the tank, a bracket secured to said sleeve and provided with a grooved guide, and a flexible connection connected at one end to the bell crank passing around said guide and through said sleeve, and depending on the exterior of the tank.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

PHILIP HAAS. 

